# US 11,029,291 B2 · Systems and methods for ionization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,291 B2 - Document ID: US11029291B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/925,514 - Filed: 2020-07-10 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-09 - Assignees: Thermo Finnigan LLC - Applicants: Thermo Finnigan LLC - Inventors: Gary A. Schultz; R. Paul Atherton; Eloy R. Wouters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029291B2 ## CPC - G01N 30/7266: {by electric field, e.g. electrospray} - H01J 49/165: {Electrospray ionisation} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A system for analyzing a sample includes a chromatographic device, an electrospray source, and a mass resolving device. The chromatographic device is configured to separate components of the sample as a function of retention time within a chromatographic column. The electrospray source is configured to direct a first portion of a flow from the chromatographic device via a waste outlet to a pressurized waste reservoir, direct a second portion of the flow to an electrospray ionization outlet to form a spray, and charge and desolvate the spray to form ions of the components of the sample. A flow rate of the second portion of the liquid flow is substantially determined by a pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir. The mass resolving device configured to receive the ions and characterize the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for analyzing a sample comprising: an electrospray source configured to direct, at a junction, a first portion of a flow from a chromatographic device via a waste outlet to a pressurized waste reservoir; direct, at the junction, a second portion of the flow to an electrospray ionization outlet to form a spray, a flow rate of the second portion of the liquid flow is substantially determined by a pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir, wherein the electrospray ionization outlet includes a platinum wire threaded through the junction and at least one electrospray emitter, the platinum wire to provide a voltage to the second portion of the flow at the at least one electrospray emitter; and charge and desolvate the spray to form ions of the components of the sample; a mass resolving device configured to: receive the ions; and characterize the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions; and a controller configured to: adjusting the pressure within the pressurized waste reservoir to control the flow rate of the second portion to the electrospray ionization outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a chromatographic device configured to separate components of the sample as a function of retention time within a chromatographic column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrospray emitter includes an array of electrospray emitters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the array of electrospray emitters includes at least about 5 electrospray emitters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the array of electrospray emitters includes not greater than about 1000 emitters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein an electric field strength at the at least one electrospray emitter is between about 2×107 V/m and about 2×1010 V/m. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the electrospray ionization outlet includes a counter electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the electrospray source is configured to provide a nebulization gas at the electrospray ionization outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the nebulization gas has a pressure of between about 1 psi and about 5 psi. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein a split ratio of the second flow to the first flow is between about 1:1 to about 1:2000. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow rate of the second portion is between about 10 nL/min to about 25 μL/min per emitter nozzle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir is between about 2 psi and about 50 psi. ### Claim 13 An electrospray source comprising: a junction having: an inlet for receiving a liquid flow from a liquid chromatography column; a waste outlet for directing a first portion of the liquid flow to a pressurized waste reservoir; and an electrospray ionization outlet configured to generate ions from a second portion of the liquid flow, a flow rate of the second portion of the liquid flow is substantially determined by a pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir, wherein the electrospray ionization outlet includes at least one platinum wire and at least one electrospray emitter, the platinum wire inserted through the junction to the electrospray emitter to provide a voltage to the second portion of the flow at the electrospray emitter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein the at least one electrospray emitter includes an array of electrospray emitters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrospray source of claim 14 wherein the array of electrospray emitters includes at least about 5 electrospray emitters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrospray source of claim 15 wherein the array of electrospray emitters includes not greater than about 1000 emitters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein an electric field strength at the at least one electrospray emitter is between about 2×107 V/m and about 2×1010 V/m. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein the electrospray source is configured to provide a nebulization gas at the electrospray ionization outlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrospray source of claim 18 wherein the nebulization gas has a pressure of between about 1 psi and about 5 psi. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein a split ratio of the second flow to the first flow is between about 1:1 to about 1:2000. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein the flow rate of the second portion is between about 10 nL/min to about 25 μL/min per emitter. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The electrospray source of claim 13 wherein the pressure of the pressurized waste reservoir is between about 2 psi and about 50 psi.